December Newsletter

MGP Families,

November was a wonderful month at MGP! We had the opportunity to recognize veterans from our school community at our Veteran's Day Parade. Students created patriotic decorations and signage that lined our hallways in order to recognize their service.

Parent conferences were well attended by our families! Thank you for prioritizing time to sit down with us to discuss your child's strengths and growth opportunities. We appreciate the partnership with you!

Prior to Thanksgiving, we held our monthly student recognition assembly and focused on the character trait - Gratitude. We sang songs and did cheers together! Ask your child about the Wildcat Cheer! We recognized students for their positive behavior as well as good attendance habits.

As we enter the holiday season, we want you to know how grateful we are to be part of your child's educational journey. We have AMAZING students at MGP who are creative, curious, kind, collaborative, and hard working! Thank you for preparing them so well!

We wish you and your family a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Andrea Sperry

Maple Grove Principal

Battle Ground Public Schools has an important levy coming up in February. Come hear BGPS superintendent, Denny Waters, explain the importance of this levy, what the money would be used for, and the importance of voting.

Please join us in the small gym on Monday, January 6th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

Right at School will be providing childcare in the RHL commons for school-age children during this event.

We will join RHL and BGVA families for this important forum.

As the winter weather sets in, we have changed our morning location for our 3rd and 4th grade students. Beginning in December, ALL students (TK-4th grade) will line up in the gym before school. This provides our students with a warm, dry place to wait for school to begin. Supervision in the gym begins at 8:45 on M, Tu, Th, and F. It begins at 9:45 on Wednesdays.

Our Wildcat Choir is excited to present a special performance on December 19th at 6:00 PM in the MGP Commons. We will share a delightful mix of seasonal favorites, classic choir pieces, and winter-themed songs. MGP Alumin are invited to sing one of our tried and true favorites! Light refreshments will be served after the performance. Don't miss this heartwarming event!

There will be a temporary road closure on NE 179th Street beginning January 6th. We wanted you to know as it may impact your travel time to and from work.

• Choir Practice after school on December 16th and December 18th
• December 18th Holiday Assembly at 2:50 PM - Parents are welcome to join
• Choir Concert - December 19th at 6:00 PM
• School Spirit Week December 16th - 20th
• Winter Break - December 23, 2024 - January 3, 2025
• School resumes on January 6, 2025

We were able to recognize over 90 students at our November assembly on 11/20 for being showing gratitude, and for having positive attendance. Congratulations for all of our winners!

3rd-grade students investigated what makes for a healthy salmon habitat, then walked to the banks of the Columbia River to make observations and perform water quality tests, collecting data to answer the question “Is the river healthy for salmon today?” Tests included pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and turbidity. Based on our test results, we determined that the river conditions were favorable for salmon health at the time of our

Assessment

Dear Families,

During the December 23-January 3 winter break from school, we are grateful to everyone for helping to restore a routine for showing up to school while supporting students and families.

We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off during the winter break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session.

Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to develop personally, socially and academically.

We thank:

● Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it isn’t easy.

● Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.

● Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.

● Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need. We appreciate each one of you. May these days off be restful and healing.

● If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to Tamra Vanegas, school counselor, for help.

● We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes on January 6, 2025.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Sincerely,

Tamra Vanegas, school counselor

We have over 150 students who have attended every day at MGP so far this school year! We love seeing our smiling students when they are healthy and ready to be in class.

If your student will be out, please call the office to let us know. When there are longer planned absences, we would love to work with you on how to keep your student on track. Please contact the office so that we can support the communication with your teacher.

The Maple Grove PTA wishes everyone a wonderful holiday season!

Not a member of the PTA? Consider joining and help out our school! Membership costs $10 a year. Join and be a part of helping our school!

https://mgprimarypta.givebacks.com/

Please remind your student to check lost and found for their missing items. There are many jackets, lunch boxes and accessories in the cafeteria waiting to find their way back home.

Maple Grove staff had some sneaky fun in November with our first Underground Staff Spirit Week! If your students noticed something seemed strange with us, they might have been on to something! Check out the video of some of our fun times that week.

Now Wildcats, it’s your turn for a fun spirit week! On December 16th-20th we will be having an all school spirit week to kick off Winter Break. Click on the flyer to see what each day will bring!

Did you receive our annual report?

Our 2024 Report to Our Community should have arrived in your mailbox if you live within the district. You can also view it in a digital format. The report includes information on enrollment, demographics, educational progress, budget and recent curriculum adoptions. You’ll also find important information about how local levy funding affects every school in our district.. Be sure to give it a read!

Snow routes available and winter weather guide

Snow routes for 2024-25 are now posted on the district website. Be sure and take a moment to check out our handy winter weather guide for information on late starts or school closures due to weather-related impacts. Please note, the district is divided into “north” and “south” schools. This year, Battle Ground Virtual Academy is considered a south school.

In case of a school closure or late start, we may begin contacting families as early as 5:30 a.m. We will attempt to contact you at the telephone number and email address that are listed in your Skyward (Family Access) account. We would encourage you to take a minute and log into Skyward to verify your contact information is up to date. You can also reach out to your school office for assistance.

See the library books that your child has checked out

School libraries are important sources of information for young readers. Parents and guardians are welcome to see what's available in their child’s school library and review the books their child has checked out. Find out how. If there are books you do not wish your child to read, please contact the teacher-librarian at your child's school. The teacher librarian will note these restrictions in your child's account.

Internet safety

BGPS uses Go Guardian to keep students safe online on their school-issued devices. Parents/guardians can use the Go Guardian Parent app to help monitor activity when their child is using their school-issued device at home outside of school hours. This application has features like web filtering and parental controls such as pausing internet access and setting up online hours. Learn more and find other resources for going online.

Chickenpox

Battle Ground Public Schools continues to experience chickenpox cases at several buildings, including two outbreaks. When an outbreak happens, Clark County Public Health may direct students who do not have documented immunization to stay home for 21 days to reduce the chance of the disease spreading further. A student may be able to return to school sooner with documented proof of immunity. If you have questions about your child’s chickenpox immunization status, please reach out to our school nurse.

Attendance matters

Regular attendance and punctuality are essential to student learning and success. The skills that students learn in primary school will help them be successful in middle and high school. A student’s attendance often can predict whether they are likely to graduate high school on time.

In addition, your child learns valuable social skills at school and has the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with students and staff. Please let us know how we can support your child and your family in maintaining attendance. Learn more.

School menus

Battle Ground Public Schools is partnering with Chartwells to provide breakfast and lunch at school. Menus are still available via Nutrislice and meal expenses can still be paid through InTouch Receipting, just like last year. Printable menus are also available on the district and school websites.

Report, don’t repost

If you see or hear of a possible threat, please report it to law enforcement directly and/or to school staff. This is the best and most helpful action because it begins an investigation and helps to limit the potential for misinformation to spread.

Reposting or sharing a threat on social media in an attempt to warn others spreads the threat farther from its original source and may cause unnecessary alarm and fear.

You can report bullying, intimidation, harassment, threats and safety concerns using our anonymous reporting system. Emergencies should always be reported to 911.

Care Solace: Your link to mental health support

Battle Ground Public Schools has partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students and their immediate family members. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help any student and/or their immediate family members quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to their needs, regardless of insurance or circumstance. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365 in any language).

• Visit www.caresolace.com/battlegroundps and either search on your own or select “Book appointment” for assistance by video chat, email or phone.

Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish translation and interpretation services

Услуги по устному и письменному переводу на русский и украинский языки 360-885-5433

Servicios de Traducción e Interpretación en Español 360-885-5431

Employee Recognition Award

Do you know an amazing staff member? The new Employee Recognition Awards will highlight staff members who reflect the district’s strategic plan goals. Three nominees will be selected each month and recognized at a board meeting. Everyone is welcome to submit a nomination.

Looking for something to do?

Be sure to check out our Community Events page for fun ideas of things to do throughout the local community. Nonprofit organizations looking to share their own upcoming events are welcome to submit a flyer to be included. Flyers are posted on the community events webpage and printed at relevant schools on their community bulletin boards. The BGPS community flyer checklist provides information about what is required for flyer submission.